Tasted on a hot day in Chablis with Vincent Tremblay, 31 March 2021 – one week before the frost arrived.
Domaine Gérard Tremblay
12 Rue de Poinchy
89800 Chablis
Tel: +33 3 86 42 40 98
www.chablis-tremblay.com
More reports with Domaine Gérard Tremblay
Vincent on 2021:
“The left bank had no snow – it made a difference – we managed to make 65% of our normal harvest.”
Vincent on 2020:
“In 2020 we made a normal harvest. We were occupied in the vines for the whole year but made only 5 treatments in the growing season – some (treatment sellers!) said that I was gambling but I saw the first trace of oïdium only on the last day of my harvest – so I think the lack of treatments also helped us in the cuverie – there was nothing to do, the fermentations ran perfectly well.”
The wines…
Wines that generally show a bit more austerity and ‘vin de garde’ style than the 2019s here – but that’s the two vintages. Clean, complex, wines that will repay your patience – all are good to excellent!
2020 Petit Chablis
Mainly vines near the 1er cru of Beauroy on a Portlandian base.
Quite a modest volume of aroma but clean and attractive. Nice structure, mouth-watering with a citrus style and acidity. Mineral finishing – this has waves of saline-mineral flavour in the finish – very good!
2020 Chablis
There’s 20 ha of Chablis here – parents, Gérard and Hélène, bought in the 1970s. Vines at the bottom of Fourchaume and Beauroy, principally in the area of Beines.
Also quite a tight nose – but still clean and pure. Extra width, mineral and structural again – lots of salinity too. Waves of finishing flavour – keep it a year or so before attacking but this is full and tasty wine…
2020 Chablis Vieilles-Vignes
Vines over 40 years old – but dotted around the place so not usually one parcel. This a tank sample
A narrow nose but one with a vibrant mineral depth – nice! Also a structural wine – more in this case but with an extra mouth-watering, juicy, zesty flavour profile. Extra material in the finish. Also, give this some cellar-time but there is extra in most directions versus the previous wine.
2020 Chablis Cuvée Helene
The same base-wine as last but with barrel elevage – named after Vincent’s mum.
The nose is obviously oaked but the shape and minerality of this wine are not disguised – just the edges are are a little softer, rounder. The finish is nicely vibrant and saline – I wouldn’t touch one for 2 years.
2020 Chablis 1er Beauroy
A single parcel on the hill of Troesmes, replanted at the start of the 2000s. From tank but ready for bottling
That’s a nice nose, complex, mineral, a little graphite style. Mouth-filling. Melting with flavour over the palate – structural but not too much rigour. The finish is really excellent – again a little patience is required but it will be rewarded.
2020 Chablis 1er Côte de Lechets
3 ha spread over 4 parcels. Tank, again.
A similar nose to the last but lighter in tone and a little wider. More elegant and finer textured – that’s really lovely – growing in mouth-watering intensity. A super wine!
2020 Chablis 1er Montmains
Two parces in Montmains proper
A nose that’s easy and softer but very attractive too – slightly floral. A little more serious, with cooler fruit and plenty of width – structural but not hard. For keeping – I like the strictness here. Very good!
2020 Chablis 1er Fourchaume
5 ha of this in 7 parcels – much from Vincent’s grandparents who originated from La Chapelle – half a hectare is in Homme Mort but the rest in Fourchaume proper. Just bottled
A smaller nose but a little rounder and with a yellow, almost golden, style to the fruit. Round, full of bubbling complexity and freshness – a juicy wine with a little extra elegance vs the average in this cellar this year. Again very tasty wine.
2020 Chablis 1er Fourchaume Vieilles-Vignes
Planted in 1951 by grandfather, half a hectare, right in the centre of Fourchaume
Extra width and a little more floral. There’s extra intensity here – a direct style but still not lacking in saline width – nicely vibrant finishing. This is excellent – keep it a couple of years – maybe 5 – but you will be rewarded.
2020 Chablis Vaudesir
0.62 ha – Part barrel but the assembly with the tank part is already done – so sampled from tank
Deeper colour but the nose shows practically none of the wood – it’s spiced and saline with a good, pure, width of aroma. Wide and silky. Growing in intensity, faintly grained with tannin. Layered in the middle and finishing flavours and very long. That’s a very fine grand cru.